BAR HARBOR, Maine — The reopening of Acadia National Park Thursday came too late for Rich Oczkowski, owner of High Seas Motel.

The 16-day federal shutdown, coming at the end of his busy season, cut his usual sales by half. He stood at his 37-room property—tucked amid dramatic ocean vistas and glorious fall foliage-- contemplating how he and his pregnant wife will pay the mortgage, budget for the baby, and make it through the long off-season.

In a difficult economy, he said, “You’re spread even thinner.”

Oczkowski and this Downeast tourist town are among those who will feel the effects long-after Washington turns to other issues. The shutdown sucked an estimated $24 billion from the US economy.